[ROBOT BAND] Octant was something of a curiosity when the band, comprising primarily robots (not the big silver kind with PVC pipe for arms, but small, instrument-playing machines), made a small splash in the late ’90s. But in the past 15 years, Matthew Steinke's musical science project has gone from being all bleeps and bloops to an honest-to-goodness singer-songwriter project...if one with a near-invisible backing band. After a long silence, Octant's 2011 self-titled disc is a gorgeously (and yes, robotically) orchestrated listen that has more in common with the Eels or late-era Rentals than it does with any of tonight's openers: Steinke's little friends have learned subtlety and restraint on their now largely acoustic instrumentation. And as cool as it sounds coming through the stereo, I guarantee you that these songs are a lot more fascinating in concert.

Where: Rotture
Phone: 234-5683
Address: 315 SE 3rd Ave.
Website: rotture.com